Diana had dreamed up the idea of writing Arkham Files as a way to help keep Peter and Neal safe. An unidentified criminal was known to be stalking them. Their foe had demonstrated a fascination with the world of horror- writer H.P. Lovecraft, causing Mozzie to give him the nickname of Azathoth. Diana reasoned that provoking him with stories featuring members of the White Collar team could lead to his eventual unmasking. The profiler on the case, Tricia Wiese, saw an additional benefit. She hoped to manipulate the plots to make Azathoth experience reverse Stockholm syndrome, where the criminal develops feelings of empathy toward his captives.
Warning for minor spoilers to Caffrey Conversation
The stories began in March 2005 and have achieved measurable success. White Collar now knows that Azathoth is actually Rolf Mansfeld, an expert programmer and brother to master art thief Klaus Mansfeld, aka the Leopard. The two brothers faked their deaths and now work for the international criminal organization Ydrus. As the team acquired additional information about their enemy, Diana has been able to refine the hidden messages in the stories. They're aware that Azathoth's objective is to drive Neal away from the Bureau and into the embrace of Ydrus. The Arkham Round Table's response is to signal that Neal does his best work in partnership with Peter and that Peter is open to being recruited by Ydrus along with Neal.
Lion's Lair contains the most overt messages to the Mansfelds. The title is one of them. Klaus had given Neal the nickname of Lion Cub when he was a member of Klaus's crew. In response, a lion figures in the message on the armillary sphere. The message reads: Seek the answers to your questions in Lyon. Go to the lion's lair on the hill that prays and place your hand on the tuft of his tail. The serpent flies overhead. Arkham Neal and Peter don't know of any links to a lion, but the Mansfelds must wonder if Diana is tweaking them about the nickname. Rolf had attempted to make Neal feel guilty about Klaus's supposed death. Why would she bring up the reference? Do they suspect that Klaus is alive?
Lyon reinforces the lion theme. The word lyon is Old French for lion, and a lion is the city's symbol. The word lair in the title also has a hidden significance. Rolf and Klaus are meant to believe Neal is still a relative innocent and subject to being swayed. But if they dare enter his lair, they'll find an entire pride of lions backing him up. Neal is seen in his "lair," aka the Gilman townhouse, in Chapter 2. Although his youth and inexperience are accented in the chapter, his surrogate parents, Peter, the dominant male, and his lioness El are fiercely protective of him. The alien drug discovered in Neal is analogous to the virtual reality program Neal was subjected to in Los Angeles. In both cases, the effects are unknown, but the Arkham Round Table is putting Ydrus on notice that Neal's pride is ready to do battle with anyone who threatens him.
As to the meaning of the serpent in the message, it's a clear reference to Ydrus. That word Ydrus is a variant of Hydrus, a mythological creature usually represented as a snake. The logo of the organization is a stylized snake, and its leader goes by the code name of Python. Diana's use of a serpent is meant to catch Rolf's attention, but its significance in the story won't be what he expects.
Lion's Lair on Archive of Our Own
Lion's Lair on FanFiction
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